Mike Kidd, owner of the Pet Butler® franchise in Cary, North Carolina, always dreamed of owning a business. Kidd, a Navy veteran who retired from the Department of Homeland Security in 2022, started researching business opportunities before his departure. By Patty Horansky
Getting the Scoop on Pet Care Services
Mike Kidd, owner of the Pet Butler® franchise in Cary, North Carolina, always dreamed of owning a business. Kidd, a Navy veteran who retired from the Department of Homeland Security in 2022, started researching business opportunities before his departure.
“I’ve always had the entrepreneurial spirit,” he explained. “I wanted it to be in the pet industry because that’s my passion. I love dogs and cats.”
He learned that Pet Butler, a national pet waste-removal franchise, was adding dog walking, pet sitting and pet shuttling to its services.
“I saw there were going to be different opportunities and added revenue streams,” Kidd said.
He and his wife, Michelle, attended a Pet Butler Discovery Day in Chicago and came away with a positive view of the company.
“Everybody at Pet Butler was like family,” Kidd recalled. “It was a very tight-knit group.”
The brand provides a low point of entry, comprehensive training and superior support that includes a business consultant.
Kidd purchased two territories in October 2022, serving Cary and other suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. His franchise provides residential pet waste removal, yard deodorizing, pet sitting, dog walking, pet shuttles and pet waste-removal stations, which are popular in parks, apartment complexes and other sites.
Kidd’s son, Justin, works as the manager and drives one of two wrapped service trucks. A part-time employee drives the second truck, and the franchise has about seven pet sitters. Kidd’s two daughters help with pet sitting and dog walking, while Michelle assists with back-office work.
Kidd recently acquired a local pet care company, Fluff, Inc., and saw business jump from 25 clients a week to 25 a day. Kidd said he started 2023 with 10 clients and had 179 as of this past spring.
“Business has been growing quickly,” he said. “People love their pets like children.”
Most clients are repeat customers, producing passive income that allows Kidd to focus on maximizing his territories. One of his goals for the future is to add one truck per year.
“I am looking to grow,” Kidd explained. “I want to become bigger and bigger and bigger.”
Patty Horansky